"I'll bet he would.

Why, how do you suppose your father became rich in the lumber trade if it wasn't through snapping up bargains every time he found one ?" "I have no doubt that my father has been and is a very alert business man," retorted Miss Josephine most icily; "but after he knew that you had started out actually to purchase a tract of lumber, he would certainly consider that you had established a prior claim upon the property." "Your father's name is Theophilus Stevens, isn't it ?" "Yes." "Humph!" said Sam, but he did not explain that exclamation, nor was he asked to explain.

Miss Stevens had been deeply wounded by the assault upon her father's business morality, and she desired to hear no further elaboration of the insult.
She was glad that they were drawing up now to the porch, glad this ride, with its many disagreeable features, was over, although she carefully gathered up her bright-berried branches, which were not half so much withered as she had expected them to be, and held her geranium slips cautiously as she alighted.
Her father came out to the edge of the porch to meet them.

He paid no attention to his daughter.
"Well, Sam Turner," said Mr.Stevens, stroking his aggressive beard, "I hear you got it, confound you! What do you want for your lumber contract ?" "Just the advance of this morning's quotations," replied Sam.
"Princeman tell you I was after it ?" "No, not at first," said Stevens.

"I received a telegram about that grove just an hour ago, from my partner.